Ornament-carrying ear-clamp.



c. F. MARKHAM. ORNAMENT CARRYING EAR CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26. 1915;.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

314 LN/n tor C/mr/L sFMar/r/mm wi/twm o WM UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE I CHARLES F. MARKHAIVI, OI PROVIDENCE. RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H. STONE,

OF PROVIDENCE, RI-IODE ISLAND.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. MARK- HAM, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ornament-Carrying Ear-Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ear clamping devices of the class employed for attaching ornaments to the ear and that without piercing the same, and the invention has for its object to provide a substantially U shaped tubular frame having an ear gripping portion at one end and a spring pressed member mounted to slide in its opposite end which also has an ear engaging portion adapted to cooperate with the first mentioned grip to engage and clamp the earlobe between them.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of operating handles, one connected to the slidable member and the other to the tubular frame, whereby the sliding member may be moved to open the space between the ends and permit the clamp to be readily positioned on the ear-lobe and be connected thereto.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partially in section showing a tubular frame with my improved spring actuated gripping member slidably mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a rear edge view of the device,

showing the operating handles and the slot in which one of said handles is adapted to slide.

Fig. 3- is a side elevation of the slidable member detached and showing its operating handle connected thereto.

Referring to the drawings this ear clamp is formed of substantially a U-shape frame of tubular material, the front arm or portion 10 of which is practically straight while the rear arm or portion 11 is curved and formed on the arc of a circle. As shown in the drawing, the front arm 10 is of much smaller diameter than the rear arm 10, and the extremity thereof has a cut away portion to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented DecQlO, 1918.

Application filed April 26, 1915. Serial No. 23,908.

form a setting for a gem 13, the rear wall clamp it firmly in position thereon.

Inthe back or outer face of the arm portion 11, I have formed an elongated slot 17 7 through which I extend a handle 18 andconnect the same to the shank 15, also at the lower'end of the slot 17 I have connected a handle 19 to the larger tube. A spring 20 acts against the inner end of shank 15 to force the same outward and normally hold it in engaged position. The opposite end of the spring rests against the abutment 22,

provided by the contracted wall of arm 10.

In operating this device it is only necessary to engagethe handles 18 and 19 by the thumb and finger and by pressing upon the same the shank 15 will slide into the outer tube and so open the space between the gripping ends to receive the ear-lobe, then by releasing these handles the sliding member will immediately engage the ear and so retain. the clamp in position thereon. The end of the slot is closed at 21, forming a wall against which the pin 18 brings up to limit the closing motion of the sliding member.

A feature of my invention is that by forming this clamp of tubular members the whole may be constructed of rolled gold-plate stock and so be produced of much cheaper material than would be possible with some other constructions. In some cases, I have found it advisable to pass the front portion or arm 10 of the device through a reducing machine to reduce that portion which comes in front of the ear, making the same as small and inconspicuous as possible, and in addition to this the shoulder 22 caused by reducing the stock also serves as an abutment against which the end 23 of the operating spring may rest.

I have also suggested that the slidable member 15 may be formed of a tube but this may be constructed of rolled goldplated seamless wire if desired, and the gripping pad 16 may be formed integral with it by swaging the end, or this pad may be formed separate and subsequently secured thereto.

I have shown the spring 20 as pressing against the end of the sliding member 15 but this spring may be arranged in many other ways to act upon this sliding member.

I claim:

1. An ear clasp of the character described comprising a tubular body ofapproximate U-shape, the frontarm of said body having the front portion ofthe tubular wall of its free end cut away to form a gem setting, a clamp member having a shank telescoping with the other arm of the body and cooperating with the back portion of the cut-away tubular wall and a spring acting against said shank. V

- 2. An ear clasp of the character described comprising a tubular body of approximate U-shape, the front arm of said body having a portion of its free end cut away to form a Copies of 'this'patent may be obtained for gem setting, a clamp member having a shank telescoping with the other arm of the body and cooperating with the wall of the front arm back of the gem setting, a spring acting against said shank, the front arm being of contracted diameter to provide an abutment for said spring. I

3. An ear clasp of the character described comprising a tubular body of approximate U-shape, a clamp member having a shank telescoping with the rear arm of the body and cooperating with the front arm, and a spring bearin against said shank, said front arm being 0 ide an abutment for said spring.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. MARKHAM. Vitnesses:

HOWARD E. BARLoW, A. F. MAoREAnY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington', D. O.-

contracted diameter to pro- 

